Huh, life affirmations from the Devil.
“Abaddon confessed his boss is taking an interest in Cora and her existence, but isn’t mounting a search and destroy mission,” Dave said as he took a sip of the wine.
“Boss?” Aira asked with a frown. Sophia snickered, and Aira’s eyes widened when she realized who he meant. Having a higher power around, one that transcended all of us, was something we shouldn’t ignore. He was, after all, omnipresent.
Aunt Sophia’s scarf was looking more and more appealing by the second. Maybe we should have a thoughtful gift ready, just in case.
“Is it a good or bad thing he has eyes on Cora?” Dave asked.
Lucifer titled his hand back and forth. Oh wonderful. The devil was hedging his bets. “It’s worth noting our actions may be more closely monitored due to our proximity to Cora.” He turned toward me. “I wasn’t kidding, Cora. I’m going to visit your grandmother, and it won’t be through a summoning. I’m going to scare the living shit out of her.”
Sophia shook her head. “My sister is too stubborn for the Devil to scare to death. You might house the worst of the worst down there, but she will be your ugliest acquisition once she finally kicks the bucket.”
“Has anyone tried murdering the bitch?” Dave drawled. “And who do I need to summon to get a little food around here? I’m starving after the inedible hors d’oeuvres you served, Cora.”
Yes, the six-foot-plus burly shifter looked positively emaciated.
Lucifer snorted, and an array of food appeared on the table. Dave hummed as he surveyed the offerings, his nostrils flaring. “Is that venison stew?”
“It is,” Lucifer answered as Dave ladled some into a bowl. “And to answer your question about Eloise, no, not exactly.”
“What does that mean?” I wondered. I had spent many a night plotting my revenge against my grandmother, but given the absence of my parents in my childhood, she was more of a mother figure, sadly. There was a lot of research about why patricide was very difficult, even in cases of extreme abuse. It was like our biology was written to ensure that doesn’t happen.
“She’s not altogether human,” Lucifer said very carefully.
“Not exactly a revelation, uncle,” I responded as I grabbed a triple stacked chicken club sandwich, deciding that I too neededto eat something other than cookies. Apparently, while yummy, one could not exist on them alone. “Her elemental status has never been in question.”
“No, but she’s not just an elemental either.”
Everyone froze. My mouth was poised to take the first bite, and my stomach grumbled in warning should I make the wrong decision.
“Since when?” my aunt asked, breaking the shocked spell. I bit into my food and groaned. My God, the devil could make a mean club sandwich.
“I’m not sure,” Lucifer answered.
“Do you know what she is?” Aira asked. Good question. Glad she asked so I can keep eating.
Lucifer’s jaw clenched. Nope, he did not know, and it pissed him off. “All I can tell you is this: if you strip away her elemental power, all that should be left is a defenseless human, and that’s not the case. Without that power, she should be easy to kill.”
“So you tried?” Dave checked.
Yes, uncle, when did you go rogue and try to murder the woman we have to have meetings about every few days?
“No, I sent someone months ago, before all this recent concerning behavior, to make sure if we needed to dispatch her, we could. But while they could rip away her born power, it revealed something more toxic and unnatural underneath.”
Concerning behavior? Eloise Roberts had been this way as long as I could remember. Just because she’d gotten more ballsy and open with it didn’t mean it was a recent development. Damn, were those smokey bacon bits on the top layer? This and cookies. Surely that was a good diet?
“Unfortunately, before I could investigate further, she leveled up.”
“Leveled up?” Harry asked with a frown. Not a computer games guy. Figures.
“Yes, she got stronger. Whatever she’s doing, it’s becoming more difficult to figure out a way to take her out.”
“Should have done it while you had the chance,” I muttered.
Aunt Sophia smacked the back of my head. “Manners. Don’t eat with your mouth full. I know we didn’t raise you like that.”
I swallowed the last bite with a grin and washed it down with a mouthful of wine. “So the new mission is to figure out how she’s getting stronger and what the source of that power is?” I ask.
